Released in 2019 as part of the KAWS: Holiday project in Japan, Holiday Japan Companion translates one of the artist’s most poetic large-scale interventions into a compact, collectible form. The edition accompanies the installation of a monumental 40-metre-long reclining Companion presented at Fumotoppara Camping Ground, set against the iconic backdrop of Mount Fuji.
Within the Holiday series, this iteration stands out for its dialogue with nature—positioning the Companion not within an urban environment, but within a landscape traditionally associated with contemplation, balance, and cultural identity.
Introduction
The figure is presented lying on its side, body gently curled, with the knees slightly bent and one arm resting across the torso. The head tilts downward, with the signature X-shaped eyes facing diagonally toward the ground. This posture introduces a distinct shift from other reclining Companions. Rather than a fully extended or frontal position, the figure adopts a more fetal, inward orientation—suggesting withdrawal, protection, or introspection. The composition is compact and self-contained. The limbs fold into the body, reducing the overall footprint and reinforcing a sense of enclosure. The figure no longer occupies space expansively—it contracts within it.
Across the three colorways, subtle variations in tone affect the reading. The black version appears more graphic and defined, with the yellow X-eyes creating a sharp focal point. The brown introduces warmth and softness, while the grey emphasizes the sculptural qualities of the form, reducing it to a quieter, more neutral presence.
Executed in painted cast vinyl and produced in collaboration with AllRightsReserved, the work maintains the smooth surface and precise finish characteristic of KAWS’ editions. Unlike more limited releases, Holiday Japan Companion was produced as an open edition, making it one of the more widely distributed figures within the Holiday series. Its packaging and distribution were handled through platforms associated with AllRightsReserved, reinforcing the project’s global reach.
The edition is directly tied to the 2019 KAWS: Holiday installation in Japan, where the monumental Companion was installed in a reclining position facing Mount Fuji. The setting is critical: the work engages with a site deeply embedded in Japanese cultural and spiritual history.
By placing the Companion within this landscape, KAWS creates a dialogue between contemporary visual culture and traditional notions of nature and stillness. The figure becomes part of the environment rather than an interruption of it. The broader release included a range of objects—figurines, ceramics, and collectibles—extending the project beyond sculpture into a fully immersive cultural event.
At its core, Holiday Japan Companion is about inwardness. The curled posture suggests a state of retreat—less an act of rest than a form of protection. The figure turns away from the viewer, closing itself off and reducing its exposure. In contrast to other Holiday works that engage with openness or connection, this piece emphasizes containment. The Companion does not reach outward—it folds inward.
The reference to Mount Fuji introduces an additional layer. The work can be read in relation to ideas of solitude, reflection, and the passage of time, aligning the character—originally rooted in mass culture—with a more contemplative, almost meditative framework.
As part of the KAWS: Holiday series, the Japan edition holds a distinct position due to its unique setting and emotional tone. Its open edition format has made it more accessible than other releases, contributing to its wide distribution among collectors. Despite this accessibility, its strong conceptual identity and direct link to one of the most visually striking installations of the series sustain its relevance within the market.
More broadly, the work highlights KAWS’ ability to adapt a single character across contexts—urban, monumental, intimate—while continuously shifting its meaning. Here, the Companion does not engage, hold, or collapse. It withdraws—quietly, completely, and without resistance.
HOLIDAY JAPAN, 2019
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Brown/Black/Grey)
The complete set of three works
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2019
Dimensions: 10x24x9 cm (4 x 9-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches)
Edition: Unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ 40-meter-long figure placed amidst the quaint backdrop of Mount Fuji, set up at Fujinomiya’s Camping Ground in Shizuoka
Auction Results
Tate Ward Auctions: 30 October 2025
Estimated: GBP 500 – 800
GBP 625
KAWS (American 1974-)
‘Holiday Japan (Brown, Black & Grey)’, 2019
A complete set of three painted cast vinyl figures
Published by Ding Ding Takuhaibin
LA Modern: 28 August 2024
Estimated: USD 1,000 – 1,500
USD 774
KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b.1974)
Holiday Japan, 2019
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped signature, title and manufacturer’s mark to underside of each work
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
This complete set of three works is from the edition of unknown size
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Sold with original packaging
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Black), 2019
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Black)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2019
Dimensions: 10x24x9 cm (4 x 9-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches)
Edition: Unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Grey), 2019
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Grey)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2019
Dimensions: 10x24x9 cm (4 x 9-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches)
Edition: Unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Brown), 2019
HOLIDAY JAPAN (Brown)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2019
Dimensions: 10x24x9 cm (4 x 9-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches)
Edition: Unknown size, unnumbered
Produced by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong
Stamped signature, title and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘Kaws: Holiday Made in China’